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April - June 2006 The Journal of
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CHECK COLLECTORS, INC.
Number 78
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Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Editor: Robert D. Hohertz
PO Box 808
Northfield, MN 55057-0808
Advertising Manager: All advertising should be chan¬
neled through the Treasurer, Dick Naven. Dick’s address
is on the following page.
The Check Collector (ISSN 1066-3061) is published quar¬
terly by the American Society of Check Collectors, 473
East Elm, Sycamore, IL 60178-1934. Subscription only by
membership, dues $13 per year in the US ($17 per year in
Canada and Mexico, $23 elsewhere). Periodicals postage
paid at Northfield, MN 55057 and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: send address changes to: The Check Col-
lector, 473 East Elm, Sycamore, IL 60178-1934. All rights
reserved.
To our members:
Write something for The Check Collector\ We need articles
about checks, check-related subjects, and fiscal documents.
We retype all material. Illustrations require an original or
a good, clear, black and white copy, preferably as large
as can be obtained. Original checks sent in are copied and
returned carefully. Any questions, ask the Editor!
To our advertisers:
Deadline for advertising copy to run in the April - June issue
of The Check Collector is August 15.
The Check Collector is an effective means of reaching the
check collecting hobby, and our membership of collectors
and dealers of checks and related financial documents. It
contains feature articles about checks and check collecting
and news about the hobby.
Advertising orders must be paid in advance and shall be re¬
stricted to checks and related fiscal documents, publications,
accessories, and supplies. The ASCC accepts advertising
in good faith, reserving the right to edit copy. Copy for ads
must be camera-ready or the Editor will set it as best he can.
ASCC assumes no financial responsibility for typographical
errors in advertising. However, it will reprint that portion
of an advertisement in which a typographical error appeared
upon prompt notification of such error.
Contents
4 El Meta Bond College - Adams
5 Find in the Martkeplace - Hohertz
6 Negotiable Paper - Whitfield
12 Revenue Stamped Paper Exhibit - Hohertz
21 Unusual Item from Pennsylvania - Rabin
22 Letter to the Editor - Pickering
23 Letter to the Editor - Adams
25 Announcements
25 Secretary's Report
26 Member Exchange
27 Conversation Piece
VISIT OUR WEB PAGE
http://asccinfo.com
I have always thought this was one of the most fascinating
vignettes on any draft in my collection. The cover of this
issue shows it used on drafts with two different imprinted
revenues, Type D and Type G. The top one is a generic form
with no printed secondary bank.
A different version is included as an example in this issue's
article on some basics of check collecting, courtesy of Steve
Whitfield.
All advertisements and payments should be submitted
to the Treasurer.
Advertising rates are as follows:
One quarter page $25.00/issue
Business card size $ 15.00/issue
$10 discount for four issues paid at once,
J
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
2
Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR April-June 2006
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CHECK COLLECTORS, INC.
A non-profit organization organized under Section 501-(c)-(3)
President:
Departments:
Dues:
Robert D. Hohertz
Attorney:
US: $13 per year
PO Box 808
Hermann Ivester
Canada, Mexico: $17 per year
Northfield, MN 55057-0808
5 Leslie Circle
Elsewhere: $23 per year
rdh@northfieldmail.com
Little rock, AR 72205-2529
Security Printers Guide:
Vice-President:
Check Pool:
$5 in looseleaf form - order from
Michael S. Turrini
Phillip G. Ryman
William G. Kanowsky, address above.
PO Box 4104
859 Park Circle
Vallejo, CA 94590
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
Electronic form from Lyman Hensley
ryman859pa@aol. com
free via e-mail or send diskette and
Secretary:
return postage. Address above.
Lyman Hensley
Editor, The Check Collector.
473 East Elm
Sycamore, IL 60178-1934
Robert D. Hohertz - see above
ilrno2 @netzero .com
Librarian:
Charles V. Kemp
Treasurer:
PO Box 71892
Dick Naven
6802 S. W. 33rd PI.
Madison Hts, MI 48071
Portland, OR 97219
Membership Directory:
ascctreasurer@teleport. com
Lyman Hensley - see above
Security Printers:
Directors:
William G. Kanowsky
Lyman Hensley (2008)
1533 Savannah Dr.
Robert D. Hohertz (2008)
M. S. Kazanjian (2008)
Evansville, IN 47714
Coleman Leifer (2007)
Slide Program:
Dick Naven (2007)
Larry Adams
Lee E. Poleske (2008)
812 1/2 Story St.
Phillip G. Ryman (2007)
Robert A. Spence (Emeritus)
Michael S. Turrini (2007)
Boone, IA 50036
Membership Interests
1. Checks, general
2. Checks, USA
3. US Government Checks
4. Miscellaneous Fiscals:
Bank Drafts
Bills of Exchange
Certificates of Deposit
Promissory Notes
Warrants
Receipts
5. Checks, Great Britian
6. Checks, Canada
7. Checks, World
8. Travelers Checks & Money Orders
9. Specimen Checks
10. Ration Checks
11. Refund/Rebate Checks
12. Other
14. Counter & Modem Checks
20. Vignettes
21. Autographs
22. Railroads, Steamboats, Mining
23. Banking History
24. Security Printing & Printers
25. Check Protectors & Cancel
Devices
26. Wells Fargo History
30. Stock & Bond Certificates
31. Revenue Stamped Documents
32. Emergency Scrip
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
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Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
A Question Answered
The El Meta Bond College
by Jim Adams
A couple of years ago at the CPMX shown in Rosemont, Illinois I came across this El Meta Bond College promissory note.
It appears to be a personal loan by one Meta Chestnutt on an altered College note written in 1904. Since Indian Territory
checks and other fiscal paper are a collecting interest of mine I bought it and then tried to find out more about it.
I already owned this Bank of Minco (the town of Minco is believed to be named after the great Chickasaw chief and warrior,
Iwatumba Minco) check in my collection, which added to my interest in finding out more about the El Meta Bond College note.
All mysteries were solved when I sent copies of both Minco pieces to fellow ASCC member Richard Chadwick of Davis,
Oklahoma. Richard is the “expert” on Indian Territory fiscal paper. He kindly sent me a copy of a 1958 Chickasha Daily
Express article about the extraordinary woman Meta Chestnutt. This is a summary of the article:
As a young woman living in Raleigh, North Carolina in the late 1800’s, Meta Chestnutt heard lurid tales about the lack of
educational facilities in Oklahoma Territory and inquired whether there was anything she could do to help. She was invited
to set up a school at Silver City, “a raw cow town on the Chisholm Trail.” When she went to buy a train ticket to Oklahoma
City the agent in Raleigh told her there was no such place, so she had to go to Richmond to get one.
She opened her first school in Silver City at the age of 26. It had seven pupils to begin with, but grew in popularity. When
Minco was founded as the temporary terminal of the Rock Island Railroad in 1890 she was asked to found a school there,
which she opened in 1894. One of the prominent benefactors of the school was J.H. “Uncle Jimmy” Bond, so the school
was christened the El Meta Bond College.
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Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
It had seventy-five pupils, but as its reputation grew the local settlers began to send their children and enrollment grew to
200. Miss Chestnutt not only taught and arranged to import other qualified instructors from the East, but also cooked and
did manual work around the college. In 1906 she married a young music teacher, J.A. Sager.
The school prospered, but when Oklahoma became a state, newer and more modem schools were established and the col¬
lege began to decline. It closed in 1920. Mrs. Meta Chestnutt Sager lived until early 1948.
“ THE COLON
NEATH A H. SEGER, Manager.
Special Orders Given Prompt Attention
“ THE
to Bank of Minco, j
(vilNCO, i. T.
This “Colony Store” unused check is in Richard Chadwick’s personal collection. He considers it a “triple whammy” item
since it has an appropriate vignette on an Indian Territory check, but was used by a business in Colony, Oklahoma Territory.
Collecting territorial checks is great fun since it seems that they all have an interesting story to tell about the early develop¬
ment of our great country.
Bibliography:
http ://freepages .history.rootsweb. com/~minco/fotos/el_meta_bond_college.htm
A Find in the Marketplace
Actually, a find in the auction of the first part of Bob Pyne's collection that member David Beach held in May.
Du/K/lAi til
QXamim
The "stamp redeemed" overprint is horizontal, not reading upward as it was supposed to have been applied. There are
relatively few accounts with checks showing this misapplication.
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Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Negotiable Paper
by Steve Whitfield
The development of commerce gave rise to a need for different forms of negotiable paper. Business functioning required
credit and the transfer of credit and money by a paper method. The advantage of such a system lies in the fact that title to
the credit or moneys may be transferred from one person to another simply by indorsement and delivery, or sometimes by
delivery alone. Bills of Exchange were probably first used around 1350 AD, followed somewhat later by the promissory
note. Ultimately all the examples of fiscal paper we are now familiar with would be developed; which led, of course, to
the first “check and draft collectors”.
This article is intended to help the beginning collector of checks and other fiscal paper to understand some of the things that
confused this writer for a long time. The first part will address “negotiable paper”: i.e. those items that most check collectors
seek. Since there are many other fiscal paper collectibles, a future article will attempt to address those items.
Some useful terms:
1 .“Inland” and “Foreign” Exchange: If a draft, or bill of exchange, was specified to be cashed or collected in the
same jurisdiction, i.e. state or country, that it was drawn in, it was considered “Inland Exchange”. If the drawing
jurisdiction and the paying jurisdiction were different, e.g. a draft was drawn in Illinois to be paid in New
York, that was considered “Foreign Exchange”.
2. “Value Received”: A term commonly used in negotiable paper, but not essential. When used in a note it indicates
that the value owed and to be paid was received from the payee by the drawer, or maker, of the note.
3. “At Sight”: Means the instrument was to be paid as soon as it was presented for payment.
4. “Without Recourse”: A term that, if used by an indorser of negotiable paper, allowed him to escape liability if
the instrument was refused and not paid.
Promissory Notes: A promissory Note is an acknowledgement of a specific monetary debt (can not be goods or other
property). It must include a “promise to pay” the debt. If interest before maturity is to be collected, the interest rate must
be specified in the note. The amount to be paid has to be certain, i.e. without any contingency.
Figure 1. Promissory note from Lawrence, Kansas dated 1858. Note that interest was charged at 3% per month.
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Due Bills: Due Bills are an acknowledgement (and evidence) of a debt. They always begin with the word “Due”. They
may be payable in money, goods or personal property. They can be payable at sight, on demand or at a specified date in the
future. They are one of the simplest forms of negotiable paper.
Drafts: Drafts are a paper means to transfer funds from one entity; through a third party, to another person or entity; to the
recipient’s order, or to the bearer. Drafts were to be either payable at sight, payable on a specified date, or specified days
after sight. Drafts would be presented to the payer as early as possible, for “acceptance”. If the draft was payable at sight,
no acceptance was necessary. If accepted, the payer would write, or stamp, “accepted”; the date of acceptance, and sign his
or her name across the face of the draft, usually in red ink.
Pits nr,; r/tvj
KOCMYJ; BliOTIIintS,
JilXKLRS,
XJJTTkVRK*
Figure 2. A typical draft. Note the difference between this example and the one on the cover: this one is payable only by
Kountze Brothers in New York.
Figure 3. In inland time draft, payable five days after date. Note the "accepted” handstamp.
If the draft was a “foreign” bill and not accepted, the presenter had to protest the non-acceptance through a Notary Public.
Each party conditionally liable was then notified that the holder of the draft intended to seek restitution from them. Protests,
along with the protested draft, or a facsimile of the same, may occasionally be found by collectors and make a nice addi¬
tion to a collection.
When remittances were sent to foreign countries, they were normally prepared and sent by different means, in sets of two or
three. The first one to get there would be paid, which would cancel the others. In this way, if one was lost, another would
replace it. See Bills of Exchange.
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Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Figure 4. A protested ’’foreign” draft or bill of exchange. The handwriting across it reads, ’’Protested for non payment
Sept 4th 1879, Samuel Bucknell, N.P."
Checks: A check is a written order on a bank to pay a certain amount of money to a person: to that person’s order, or to the
bearer. It may or may not be “negotiable”. If it contains the words “to order” or “to bearer”, it is considered as negotiable
paper. Checks were always drawn on banks and were always payable at sight, therefore no acceptance was required. There
are several categories, or types, of checks that may be collected.
Figure 5. Atypical check of the 1860’s.
Counter checks were made available at banks for the convenience of their customers. These included a blank space where
the customer could write in any bank upon which he chose to draw funds. They did not include the bank name where they
were obtained.
Figure 6 (on following page). A typical counter check that would serve as negotiable paper.
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THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Certified Checks : In order to guarantee that a check would be paid, funds from an individual account could be set aside,
or held by the bank. The cashier would then indorse the face of the check as “certified”, or “good when properly indorsed”
and sign his name to it. In this way anyone who received the check could be certain of the availability of funds. The cashier
could also certify the check on his own recognizance, thereby making the bank responsible for payment even if the maker
had insufficient funds in his account when the check was presented for collection.
Figure 7. A certified check, 1867, where the certification is handwritten.
Checks with Internal Revenue stamps : At certain periods of our history, such as the Civil War and the Spanish American
War, the federal government required that tax stamps be affixed or printed on checks, drafts and other commercial paper.
This is a separate collectible area largely inhabited by stamp collectors. Many of the items acquired by the check collector
will have these stamps, either affixed or printed directly on the check form.
Figure 8. A check with a Spanish American War revenue affixed.
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Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Certificates of Deposit: These are receipts for the deposit of a specific amount of money; normally at interest and for a
specified period of time. Highly collectible, these were sometimes made to look like bank notes so they could be used as
such but get around federal provisions against the creation of money.
Figure 10. A three-month certificate of deposit, interest to be paid at no specified rate.
Figure 11. A certificate of deposit designed to look like and be used as a bank note. As it was not a bank note it would
avoid the federal restrictions on creation of money.
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Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Bills of Exchange: These are the same as drafts. Their commercial use is identical. They are either prepared as Inland Bills
or Foreign Bills. They will usually be prepared in duplicate or more copies as described under Drafts.
Proof and specimen checks, drafts, and certificates of deposit were often made to check the progress and quality of the
Engraving process. They are the creme-de- la-creme of collectible, “negotiable paper”. Some dealers carry these and oc¬
casional auctions will have one or two. Check stamp dealers also.
Figure 12. A specimen draft bearing a sample revenue imprint.
Figure 13. A proof draft. Note the punches on the signature line.
Note: Bank Bills and Treasury Notes used to be negotiable paper but are no longer issued as they were all replaced by
federal reserve notes.
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
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Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Revenue Stamped Paper
of the Spanish American War Tax Era
By Bob Hohertz
(Part 4)
Two-Cent Imprint Usage
Early Dates
It is unlikely that imprinted paper could have been ready by July 1 of 1898, given that plates had to be made for 28 printers
and distributed early enough to have checks printed and delivered by that date. Best information available indicates that
earliest use may have been around July 14.
July 19, 1898, very early use of imprint on a check where date is confirmed by bank handstamp. It is number seven, so
earlier dates may yet be found. Prior earliest reported date was August 2.
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Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Revenue Stamped Paper
of the Spanish American War Tax Era
Two-Cent Imprint Usage
Personal Checks
Excerpt from SCHEDULE A. STAMP TAXES: “ Bank check, draft.... or order for the payment of any sum of money,
drawn upon or issued by any bank, trust company, or any person or persons, companies, or corporations at sight or on
demand, two cents.”
A great number of the personal checks of the period were small and simple, such as this unused one from a South Dakota bank.
A used personal check from Arkansas. Any revenue stamped paper from there is uncommon.
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
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Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Revenue Stamped Paper
of the Spanish American War Tax Era
Two-Cent Imprint Usage
Merchants Checks
OFFICE:
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
y?/// y ■ ///r ru/sr r/
lLoatiiigii's Batik,
St. Louis.
'/)o//n/'^
E.O.STANARD MILLING CO.
Merchant’s checks were often large and elaborate, looking more like drafts than checks, with the bank name printed in the
lower left corner rather than across the top. This Saint Louis check was printed in four colors, almost unheard-of at the time.
DUS. MIXER, Mfr’s and Prop’s,
Mixer's Cancer & Scrofula Syrup.
c l)OLLMliS.
To HASTINGS NATIONAL BANK,
HASTINCS, MICH. \ --
An unusually elaborate merchant’s check from a patent medicine company in Michigan.
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
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Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Revenue Stamped Paper
of the Spanish American War Tax Era
Two-Cent Imprint Usage
Merchants Checks
Some merchant’s checks were straightforward with the bank name in the expected position, as on this one from a “Thirst
Parlor” in Cripple Creek, Colorado.
Z 7 ^'///.
cr~0
As_
Other businesses, such as this mining company in Montana, simply handstamped their names on their checks.
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
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Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Revenue Stamped Paper
of the Spanish American War Tax Era
Two-Cent Imprint Usages
Special Purpose Checks
Though each of these checks had a different, specified purpose, they were payable on sight and taxed two cents per check.
APR29j
Check used to redeem bond coupons. Note that payee’s name is printed and only date and amount are variable.
llarkiTi* Nntimml Ihtuk x*
*n tx:
_ . Suull? Amalia, *\Vh. ..
tu in ll|t'nrimnt
r/
tiulhm?
tHEOOIKK | bL.».tu^,
Cashier’s check from the Packers National Bank.
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
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Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Revenue Stamped Paper
of the Spanish American War Tax Era
Two-Cent Imprint Usages
Special Purpose Checks
This sight draft has no bank or location indicated. It was designed to be placed in a collection envelope as a convenient
means of making a donation to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Dividend check of the California Street Cable Railroad Company.
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Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Revenue Stamped Paper
of the Spanish American War Tax Era
Two-Cent Imprint Usage
Paychecks
THIS CHECK WILL BE PAID BY ANY BANK NAMED ON THE BACK OR BY ANY AGENT OF THE COMPANY IN SUFFICIENT FUNDS-
Central of Georgia Railway Company c.
y— Accounting Department - Pay Check. yVo 1735
^ G * “ J
OJavann
f If presented within Ninety Npysfrom date
O. DECEMBER I, 1899,
r the TREASURER OF THE CENTRAL OF GEORGIA RAILWAY COMPANY. SAVANNAH. GA.
£ a.. _ ($ £Ej
' \f Ulpaylo the order o/ ^
EXPRESSED |N WORDS AND FIGURES AT END OF SCHEDULE
K , ■ -
-A/
7) (i Ih
. v, ^ //<*
[n full for services rendered as _ during the Mon^of November, lM.
ars
COUNTERSIGN EDI
V3 j
H or VALID
/% / / / / - / if notcoiuilej'su/tied by
(£y {/L/,<Z/tJ£r r*y MB.NICHOLS. E . A. SI LV A.
—^^^_ _ \/ q i r m >/ i ki c
or V. B.JENKINS
Railroad paycheck with a list of 22 banks on the back, any of which would honor it. Payable within 90 days, but as payable
on sight or demand, tax rate was still two cents.
Paycheck for mine work. Specification that it must be presented within five days did not change the tax payable.
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Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Revenue Stamped Paper
of the Spanish American War Tax Era
Two-Cent Imprint Usage
Voucher Checks
Voucher checks were combinations of bills and checks, taxed as checks.
An unused voucher check from the City Library Association of Springfield. It served as an invoice, check and receipt.
T?
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Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Revenue Stamped Paper
of the Spanish American War Tax Era
Two-Cent Imprint Usage
Voucher Checks
No. / 7J
THE TAMPA WATER WORKS COMPANY.
&
# •
Add^’ss, •
• •
• •
• •
^ T
• • ® ^
• #
This Voucher, when approved and signed I • ®
FIRST NATIONAL BANK, win #
in red ink.
Cheurmau Executive Committee
I certify that the above account is correct ; that the itei|fi therein
specified were duly received, and were authorized and contracted for#
on the best possible tcphsr q
< * Sec\
‘Tampa , Fla., A*
-r#
of
9 s
/ * 6
4,
Dollars .
• P(%>4° ifo ord*' of S y
y ss-sss/j, • *•*
in full of the above , and charge to account of The Tampa Water Works Company,
To the FIRST NATIONAL BANK, Tampa. Florida .
^ V ' - Treasurer.
r> p A n nr H I G . The a b° vc draft must be dated and endorsed by the party in whose favor this Voucher is made out ; or, when signed by another party, the authority
Is Li t \ D I II I O . hrsiSi for so doing must in all cases accompany it; and this draft must NOT be cut o(T from body of Voucher.
A used voucher check of the Tampa Water Works.
This is the fourth installment in a series designed to reprint the editor's gold-medal winning exhibit of Spanish American
War revenue stamped paper.
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Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
An Unusual Item from Pennsylvania
Two Decades to Solve the Puzzle
by Sheldon Rabin
They say that many checks, especially the handwritten/manuscript ones, can tell a story, often with a human interest angle.
The item below, drafted in 1798 in Tulpehocken Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, probably did, too. But, when I
bought it many years ago in 1985, the dealer wasn’t sure about it; he guessed it was a promissory note based on its structure
and appearance, however, with its difficult to read handwriting and its equally arcane old German language, he threw his
hands up in the air and wished me luck in trying to find out just what that story really was. Since I don’t read much German
(oh, why couldn’t this have been in Spanish, French or even Polish for that matter!), I quickly gave up the effort and put
it aside for awhile. What I didn’t realize at the time was that it would remain in my “To Be Examined” file for fully two
decades, the only one of over three hundred manuscript checks and receipts in my collection I simply could not decipher.
What prompted me to pick up this item again in 2006 was that we were able to trace my wife’s family tree (Zeh/See lineage)
to Palatine, Germany (near Frankfurt) in the early 1700’s, exactly when the Palatine Germans who settled in Tulpehocken
began to emigrate to the US. They all settled first in the area around Schoharie, New York before moving on. Some, as most
of my wife’s Zeh ancestors did, went south, ultimately ending up in Virginia and Maryland. Others went west and settled
along the Tulpehocken Creek, 15-20 miles west of Reading, PA. The Palatine Germans who moved to Tulpehocken are
believed to have retained their customs and language far longer than did those who moved to Virginia; that may explain
the German language on the note.
When I picked up the note again, therefore, the first task was to get it translated. As before, this was easier said than done.
I asked several of my colleagues at the U.S. Department of State who have near-native German fluency to give it a try,
but the colloquial old Southern German expressions used by the drafter over two hundred years ago remained a challenge.
Finally, I contacted Ms. Nancy Freehafer, who coordinates the Berks County Rootsweb site. She kindly came to the rescue,
translating the key expressions and also pointing out several Palatine German research sites that might contain information
on the people mentioned in the note.
In fact, it turned out that this was not a promissory note at all, but more likely a receipt for services. It now seems that this
note was drafted by a Mr. Christoph Shmith, who acknowledges receiving the sum of eleven shillings and three pence on
January 15, 1798 from Mr. Peter Schutz as payment for Shmith’s expenses in the funeral (casket and other burial costs?) of
Mr. Franz Schutz. The one point in the receipt that still needs clarification is the reference tucked in the middle of the text
to “one and a half Taler”, a taler being one of a series of silver coins minted in various German states from the 15 th to the
19 th centuries. Could the funeral costs have been calculated locally in terms of old German coinage, one and a half taler;
and if so, was this sum the equivalent at that time of the eleven shillings and three pence?
As for the three Tulpehocken Germans, recent research confirms that both Shmith and Peter Schutz came to the US on board
the ship “Patience”, which sailed from Rotterdam (with a stopover in England) in July 1750 and registered its complement
of 124 Palatine immigrants at the courthouse in Philadelphia, PA on August 11,1750. Franz Schutz, perhaps Peter’s brother,
came over two years later, also registering on the Philadelphia tax rolls before heading west to Tulpehocken. Based on the
available federal census data for 1790, 1800 and 1810, it seems that Shmith died sometime after 1800, leaving behind two
daughters and his wife. Not sure what happened to Peter Schutz, but perhaps further research using parish, land or other
civil records in the Tulpehocken area would be productive. There is always more to do, but after all, isn’t that why check
collecting is such a rewarding and educational hobby?
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Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Letter to the Editor
Bob,
Re our exchange of e-mails enclosed are three five-year interest bearing notes by the Whitney Screw Corp payable to the
Second National Bank. Each has the appropriate 1917 war tax stamp - rate of 20 per $100. Although no interest rate is
indicated, I believe the same to be approximately 6%.
Founded in 1922, the Whitney Screw Company was primarily engaged in the manufacture of wood screws.
From a large coil, wire was fed automatically ito a machine which cut the wire to its proper length. These blanks were
next shaved and slotted and transported to the next machine which cut the threads. Final operation was that of cleaning the
screws by washing in a hot bath of soda water and dried with clean sawdust.
Metal rulers and small specialty hand tools were also manufactured by the company. Operations ceased five years ago.
Regards,
Don Pickering
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
22
Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Letter to the Editor
Dear Mr. Hohertz,
Thought this recent spelling error find of mine might be of interest to the ASCC membership. I had the lower, correctly
spelled check in my collection already, so the incorrectly spelled name really jumped out at me.
What really struck me as odd was that the city name is spelled correctly on the date line. The printer must have been asleep
on this one. I wonder how many of the misspelled ones got out before someone noticed. Not many, I bet.
Jfo/iet, . ^lA'WU & 7 .^
JOLIET CITY BANK,
F. Ij. CAGWIN, Banker,
v ~ 1 ) .< ^ ' 01 $mf ;
...===rd— —— — — . HHJollau.
_ .
>. , ». Urif/. tier's Job Print. Joliet.
Before moving to Baraboo, Wisconsin we lived in Frankfort, Illinois which is near Joliet.
Regards,
Jim Adams
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
23
Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Announcements
Postage. Postage rates for periodicals may be increased significantly again next year if the post office gets the rate schedule
it is asking for. It may be time for us to put the magazine on the internet for those who are willing to download it or read
it there and print out for themselves any portions they want to keep in that form. I have some definite ideas on how this
should be done if we go that route, having tried to read Linn’s Stamp Magazine online for a while before switching back to
paper. We will explore this further if necessary.
TCC. Notice that we did not have room for an index in this issue. Thank you to those who responded and sent articles.
Minnesota Stamp Expo 2006. Normally a stamp show would not be of great interest to check collectors - particularly
this one, which usually does not have many or any checks for sale. However, for any of you who are collectors of revenue
stamped paper, this one may be a rare chance to see Ron Lesher's exhibit of Civil War material and my exhibit of Spanish
American War paper in one place.
The show will be held from Friday, July 21 through Sunday, July 23 at the Crystal Community Center, 4800 North Douglas
Drive, Crystal, Minnesota, which is suburban Minneapolis. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. If anyone plans to attend and would like a personal walk-through of my exhibit,
please let me know.
My other acquisition from the auction of part of the Pyne collection is the following American Bank Note Company draft
from Sedalia, Missouri. It was trimmed, perhaps because the margins were not in the best of shape, but it is quite attractive
in spite of that.
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
24
Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Secretary’s Report
Lyman Hensley
Reinstated
1317 John Steinbach
0632 Tom Sheehan
Deceased
387 Tolman, Henry
New Members
1804 Curtis Conner 2 (all early checks),20,22,26,31,32
4965 Corby From Coin World
Omaha, NE 68104
1805 Robert M Hawes 1,2 (Florida),3,4
PO Box 214005
So Daytona, FL 32121
1806 Alan J Gaites 1,20,23,24,31
79 Quail Run
East Islip, NY 11730
Address Changes
Stanwood Bolton
57 Mott Ln
Brookhaven, NY 11719
Michael Sanford
107 Navaho Trail
Huntsville, AL 35806
Alvan Jones
PO Box 708
Southborough, MA 01772-0708
Kevin Thorburn
217-90 Camelot Lane
Halifax, NS B3M 4H9
Resigned
487 Mark Haley
Resigned Non-payment of dues
1791 Quagliana, Fred
1782 Carnahan, George
1781 Harris, Bradley
1780 Beck Stamp Auctions
1772 Wyder, Edward
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
1762 Edwards, Paul
1757 Gerry, George
1746 Marrin, George
continued
25
Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
Member Exchange
Four different India Hundi (Bills of Exchange) with revenue imprints for two U.S. checks with two vignettes I
need, or $10. Neil Sowards, 548 Home Ave., Fort Wayne, IN 46807-1606.
Wanted: US Government checks and Wisconsin financial documents. James A. Downey, 1534 Pennsylvania
Street, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235. E-mail mufelika@itol.com.
Trade/buy/sell any financial paper from any USA town named Wausau, Wausa, Warsaw or Poland. Terence Kafka,
885 Spring Rd., Mosinee, WI 54455.
Collector seeking St. Louis, Missouri checks from the following National Banks: Twelfth Street, Telegraphers,
Broadway and Washington. Ron Horstman, 5010 Timber Lane, Gerald, MO 63037.
New member is interested in pre-1950 Wisconsin checks. Will purchase or trade for any needed. Tom Casper,
3581 S. 75 St., Milwaukee, WI 53220-1137. E-mail tcasper57@hotmail.com.
Collector needs old Philippine TREASURY checks, 1900-1915, with portrait of Gen. LAWTON or Pres. McKINLEY.
Top prices paid for nice examples, $100 and up. Send checks or photocopies for my offer. C.M. Nielsen, PO Box 71005,
Salt Lake City, UT 84171-0005.
Wanted - Checks and related memorabilia from US branches of Canadian banks (Bank of British Columbia, Bank of
British North America, Bank of Montreal, Bank of Nova Scotia, Canadian Bank of Commerce, Merchants Bank of Halifax,
Royal Bank of Canada.) Also pre-1910 Canadian checks. Please contact Stephen Oatway, PO Box 7325, Riverview, NB
E1B 4T9 Canada. E-mail soatway@nb.sympatico.ca.
Wanted: MEXICO checks and financial documents with Mexico revenue stamps affixed or imprinted. Bob
Bergstrom, 1711 Driving Park Road, Wheaton, IL 60187, USA. E-mail: bobanne@sbcblobal.net
Exchange postings will be taken from ASCC members who are collectors only. Postings of 20 words or less are free; please
remit $3 each issue for postings of 21 to fifty words. Name and address do not count toward the 20 words.
Neither the Editor nor the ASCC can be responsible for compliance with any promises made in postings, or in response to
them. Be very clear as to the value you place on your material when discussing a trade. Fairness and common courtesy
are to be expected, but common sense must rule.
Resigned Non-payment of dues, continued
1741
Hovey, John
801
Johnson, William
1733
Sonne, Peter
763
Sweeny, P.
1723
Summer, Colin
743
Heritage Collectors Society
1713
Becker, John
687
Wisconsin Historical Society
1614
Carson, Tom
662
Smith, Bruce
1609
Bohrer, David
497
Angus, Fred
1572
Cassidy, Vincent
189
Tansky, Robert
1523
Flannery, John
37
Friedman, Herbert
1510
New York Public Library
1504
Smith, R.
1471
Nunes, Dr John
1432
Kaarlela, James
1418
Showers, David
1334
Bevers, Billy
1300
Wells Fargo Bank
1123
Carlson, Ken
949
Murphy, Judith
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
26
Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
'Ruth'A. MM&r Kvuytt,
Ephemerist
YESTERDAY'S MEMORIES, NOSTALGIA,
PASTIMES, INDUSTRY, HOLIDAYS,
CAPTURED AND RECORDED IN
HISTORY.
Historic, Charming, Lovely Items awaiting
your perusal and delight
1248 Ash Street
Lynden, WA 98264
Phone: (360)-318-8193 E-Mail: nithie@nas.com
Latest list of Americana $1.00
American Puzzle Carp*.
\Vkpyru;lit rBSo.
TlIK IXIKIBT.R 1<« KEV.
FREE LIST
of CHECKS SIGNED BY CELEBRITIES
We also buy checks
Myron Ross
HEROES & LEGENDS
18034 Ventura Blvd. #204
Encino, CA 91316
To learn more about the paper money of the U.S. and the world,
join the
SOCIETY OF
PAPER MONEY COLLECTORS
Six annual issues of PAPER MONEY, the journal of the SPMC
Annual and regional meetings
■ t jn*r/. !jv a - ^-
Annual dues: U.S. Residents.$30
Canada & Mexico.$35
Other Countries., M $40
Conatct: SPMC Membership Director, PO Box 117060,
Carrollton, TX 75011
A Conversation Piece
A postcard advertising a check punch. Unfortunately, the postmark only shows a strangely misaligned T8’ which could
indicate 18 or 1918.
National Safety Check Punch.
Price Reduced from $50 to $25.
THIS HAS NEVER BEEN SUCCESSFULLY ALTERED.
For cutting into Checks, Drafts Bonds,
Insurance Policies, Ac., the amounts for
which they are drawn affording positive pro¬
tection This Punch cuts the figures entirely
from the paper:
* 25 *
thus
destroys the fibre completely and renders
filling up an impossibility. Heretofore the
figures were soldered to the plungers, but
now they are of solid steel. In order to
make a positively unalterable Check, or
Draft, it is necessary to remove the figures
ei.tirelv from the paper. I claim that the
NATIONAL SAFETY CHECK PUNCH,
is the only positive protection. No Ink,
Tinted Paper, or Perforation is positive se¬
curity against alteration in the hands of the
Forger. It is handsomely made, and with
ordinarvuse will last a life-time.
A. W. LAW, Manufacturer,
8 WARREN ST., New York.
WRITE THE ADLESS ON THIS SI DE-TH E M ESSACE
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
27
Number 78
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
April-June 2006
UNITED STATES
REVENUE STAMPED PAPER
RN-A8 to RN-X4a
and a good selection of RM documents
We're Fiscally Responsible
as Both Buyers and Sellers
We Handle
• All Scott-listed U.S. Revenues
• Other U.S. Back-Of-The-Book
• Canadian Revenues
How do we sell?
• Through net price lists published
six times a year and offering thousands
of individual items
• By approval
How can we help you?
jj* ■ nlki i ■ "P U* ■ ill k a a ■ m ■ ■ 0 ■ ■ ■ ■ i
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We Buy & Sell
Paper Money, checks, bonds,
stocks, letters, old postcards,
stereoviews, cdv's....
If it's old and it's paper, we have it!
Box 24056
Winston-Salem, NC 27114
336-699-3551
fax: 336-699-2359
RICHARD FRIEDBERG STAMPS
310 CHESTNUT STREET, SUITE 106, MEADVILLE, PA 16335
PHONE 814-724-5824 FAX 814-337-8940
EMAIL FRIEDBERG2@EARTHLINK NET
Stocks & Bonds
Checks & Drafts, etc.
Revenue Stamps & Imprints
Bank Notes & Depression Scrip
Archival Mylar Sleeves & Albums
Books on Banks & Banking
Paper Money Reference Books
All these and more now available at
vcww.oregon-pioneer.com
Email: opmel984@qwestoffice.net
e-mail: candj@murphyenterprises.com
www.murphyenterprises.com
Announcing:
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is now available. Purchase online at our
website or send for our FREE price list today!
The Boston National Bank.
k ii iiiiinMii
«T*VVA*....
find National tlkmk HcmuT
7 ., //. 't. . . <■ f ..
"- z -'-*--- //, m,.
3 GLBNCttU
Mkhoiusts Ration ah. Bank,
Pat to _ , OBOBDKB,
Douabs.
U
-, J
‘ i
fl NO.
When it comes to finding the difficult material you need (like wonderful
early checks) always turn to us first - especially now that we feature
revenue stamped paper on our website. And Don’t Miss The Bi-Monthly
Auctions At Our Site!
Eric Jackson
P.O. Box 728 • Leesport PA 19533-0728
(610) 9266-6200 • Fax: (610) 926-0120
Oregon Paper Money Exchange
PO Box 80830, Portland, OR 97280
503-245-3659 Fax: 503-244-2977
Email: eric@revenuer.com
www.ericjackson.com
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
28
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CHECK COLLECTORS
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
The undersigned hereby applies for membership in the American Society of Check Collectors, Inc., and agrees to
comply with its Charter and By-Laws.
Enclosed with this application is $15 for dues ($20 for US mailing of The Check Collector by First Class Mail, $25
for Canada and Mexico, $25 for other foreign countries) Please make remittance in U.S. funds only payable to: The
American Society of Check Collectors, Inc.
Name:__
Address:__
City:_ State:_ Zip:_ Country:_
E-mail address:_
New Application_ Reinstatement_
Collector_ Collector/Dealer_ Dealer _
Signed:_ Date:_
I found out about the ASCC through:___
Please complete this form, enclose remittance for membership and mail to the Secretary:
Lyman Hensley , 473 East Elm, Sycamore , IL 60178, USA
Please circle the numbers that indicate your areas of collecting interest. This information will be listed with your
name on our membership roster.
1. Checks, General
8. Travelers Checks and Money Orders
2. Checks, US
9. Specimen Checks
Region or States of Interest:
10. Ration Checks
_ 11. Refund/Rebate Checks
3. US Government Checks
12. Other
4. Miscellaneous Fiscals
14. Counter and Modem Checks
Bank Drafts
20. Vignettes
Bills of Exchange
21. Autographs
Certificates of Deposit
22. Railroads, Steamboats, Mining
Promissory Notes
23. Banking History
Receipts
24. Security Printers and Printing
Warrants
25. Check Protectors and Cancel Device
5. Checks, Great Britian
26. Wells Fargo History
6. Checks, Canada
30. Stocks and Bonds
7. Checks, World
31. Revenue Stamped Documents
Region or Countries of Interest
32. Emergency Scrip
ASCC Membership Application - Jan 2008